Protect You Once

The king of Xiluo Kingdom was in a frantic state?

But Ye Chuan had already put Princess Ademi down, so the anxious king would soon be reunited with his daughter.

"We're heading to Xiluo Kingdom—turns out I’ve circled back to where I started." Ye Chuan wasn’t in a hurry at the moment. Instead, he propped his chin on one hand, observing the caravan of wagons ahead and behind him with mild amusement.

Visiting Xiluo Kingdom wouldn’t be a bad idea, especially since he still needed to collect his reward from Ademi.

If he was in a good mood, he might even take advantage of her Celestial Profound Yin physique—after all, it would boost his cultivation.

After a while, the carriage gradually came to a halt, likely for a rest break.

People began stepping down from the wagons, some adjusting their cargo, others stretching their legs to relieve stiffness.

Unlike immortals who could traverse thousands of miles in a day, mortal merchants traveling to other kingdoms for trade often took months. A round trip spanning an entire year wasn’t uncommon.

"I’ll go inform the young mistress that you’re awake. Stay here and don’t wander off," the coachman said.

"No worries, I’ll just take a little walk," Ye Chuan replied immediately.

The coachman didn’t press further, leaving with a hurried word.

Ye Chuan noticed the curious glances directed his way. After all, he had been found unconscious in the wilderness, stark naked—yet somehow alive. It was certainly a spectacle.

Ignoring the stares, Ye Chuan turned his focus inward, assessing his condition.

In the depths of his consciousness, a serene clarity prevailed.

Within his dantian—the core of a cultivator’s power—a miniature figure sat cross-legged, identical to him in every detail: jet-black hair, sharp brows, and piercing eyes. This was the Nascent Soul he had painstakingly condensed after hours of cultivation.

The tiny figure was enveloped in a faint golden glow. With each breath, spiritual energy from the world surged like a tide, weaving into silvery threads that flowed along his meridians, knitting into a shimmering web around his body.

The Nascent Soul’s eyes were lightly closed, a crimson spiritual light flickering at its brow. Its aura was profound and vast—a clear sign that Ye Chuan had stepped into the Nascent Soul realm.

"Nascent Soul powerhouse now," Ye Chuan mused, sensing the newfound strength within him.

He was… kind of strong.

The rustle of footsteps drew his attention. He glanced up to see a young woman, around twenty years old, standing by the carriage.

The wind carried the faint chime of horse bells past his ears.

Her short hair fluttered slightly, revealing a smooth forehead. Her nose was high-bridged but not sharp, the tip rounded just enough to soften her features.

She wore a practical brown traveling robe, cinched at the waist with a silver belt studded with tiny gemstones that tinkled softly with her movements. The wind tugged at her hem, occasionally revealing the embroidered emblem of the merchant caravan on her chest. Her bearing carried the poise of a noblewoman, yet her demeanor was brisk and seasoned—a woman accustomed to long journeys.

Her complexion was healthy, though her chest was a bit lacking.

That was Ye Chuan’s assessment.

"Hey, you’re awake?" Her voice was bright and unexpectedly bold.

"I found you passed out at the foot of the mountain, still breathing, so I brought you onto the wagon for treatment," Chen Muling explained.

"Thanks," Ye Chuan said.

"What’s your name?"

"Opao Zhangfei."

"That’s… a strange name. Doesn’t sound like it’s from Xiluo Kingdom or our Great Qian Dynasty," Chen Muling remarked, puzzled.

"Or you can call me Qin Tianya," Ye Chuan offered with a grin.

"Works for me!" Chen Muling didn’t press further. She didn’t even ask about his origins, only inquiring, "Where are you headed? If it’s along our route, we can give you a lift."

She added, holding up a finger,

"This time, no fare! Our caravan’s got a conscience."

"I’m going to Xiluo Kingdom—got some business with Ademi," Ye Chuan said.

Chen Muling burst into laughter. "Pfft—ha! You mean Princess Ademi of Xiluo Kingdom? Or do you just know someone else with the same name?" She giggled, waving a hand. "Alright, alright. We’re heading to Xiluo Kingdom too. Come along."

With that, she gave Ye Chuan a friendly pat on the shoulder, winked playfully, and moved on to check on the rest of the caravan without lingering.

Her cheerful, carefree demeanor gave Ye Chuan an odd sense of familiarity.

"Don’t stare. The young mistress isn’t interested in you," a voice chimed in from the side.

Ye Chuan turned to see the coachman from earlier. He shrugged.

"Wasn’t thinking that."

It was just that her lively, smiling manner reminded him a little of Luo Xi—exactly his type.

But he wasn’t smitten. After all, his beloved Luo Xi was still alive. This wasn’t some tragic reminiscence.

"Master Qin, the road ahead isn’t safe. If you’ve got nothing to do, best stay inside the wagon," the coachman advised as the caravan prepared to move again.

"Not safe?"

"Right. There are bandits in these parts. Hopefully, we won’t run into them, but if we do, you’ll need to look after yourself."

"Oh?" Ye Chuan’s interest was piqued. "How strong are they?"

The coachman waved a hand dismissively. "Bandits? What strength? They’re just petty thieves. The worst might be at the Postnatal Realm, nothing more."

"Postnatal Realm?" Ye Chuan frowned at the unfamiliar term. "What’s that?"

"You’ve never heard of the Postnatal Realm?" The coachman looked at him as if he were a sheltered child.

"Martial artists are divided into Postnatal and Innate Realms. Postnatal cultivators are tough fighters, while Innate cultivators can withstand blades with their bare flesh."

"But!" The coachman paused dramatically. "Guess what realm our young mistress is in?"

"What?"

"Guess."

"Innate?"

"Wrong! Neither Postnatal nor Innate!" The coachman’s voice swelled with pride.

"Our young mistress is a Qi Refining cultivator—a quasi-immortal who can wield spells! Far stronger than Postnatal or Innate!"

Ye Chuan: "…"

So Postnatal and Innate were below Qi Refining?

He had wondered if it was just a different ranking system, but apparently not. Postnatal and Innate were likely the peak of mortal martial arts—beyond that, further progress was near impossible.

Having spent so long in high-tier battles, this low-stakes scenario was a novelty.

Truly, a Qi Refining powerhouse.

"Uncle, ever heard of the Nascent Soul Realm?" Ye Chuan suddenly asked.

"Of course!" the coachman replied without hesitation. "After Qi Refining comes the Nascent Soul Realm!"

Ye Chuan: "…"

You know nothing.

Not even the basics.

Choosing not to dwell on it, Ye Chuan lounged in the wagon, casually organizing his skills and belongings.

Thanks to his terrifying spiritual sense, he had already detected numerous figures lurking in the shadows—clearly eyeing the caravan.

"Since fate brought us together, I’ll protect you this once."